Australian Champions at Gillman Speedway this Saturday night

Gillman Media 31 January 2024

Current Australian Sidecar Champions Mark Plaisted and Ben Pitt, and two former champions Trent Headland and Justin Plaisted race for the Bowes Family Cup at Gillman this Saturday night. Photo by Judy Mackay.

After a string of major Solo meetings, the focus switches to Sidecars with the running of the Bowes Family Sidecar Cup, featuring three current or past Australian Champions, at Gillman Speedway this Saturday night (3 February).

Note the meeting is this weekend, a week earlier than the normal fortnightly break between meetings.

Leading the line-up are current, and three-time, Australian Champions Mark Plaisted and Ben Pitt, 2017 champion Trent Headland (with April Cottrell) and 2015 champion Justin Plaisted (with Damian Egan).

It is hard to imagine, against any line-up in Australia, that the winner won’t come from those three, and barring any mishaps all three should qualify for the final, and then it is race on to see who is the new Cup winner.

While they are likely to dominate the meeting, fans should see three challenges within the one meeting, with the three Aussie Champions racing for the trophy, most of the rest of the field initially racing for a place in the last chance semi-final, and then a razor-edge race to get into the final.

Amongst the leading contenders for a semi-final place will be Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan, who were unbeaten in the opening meeting, and finished third in the Gillman Championship; Nate Headland/Jaxon Rayner, who finished fourth in the Gillman Championship; Shane Rudloff/Scott Morris, Victoria’s Chris Walker/Eric Melton, Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski, Thomas Adams/Cameron White, Dean Hobbs/Daniel Low and Josh Pascoe/Greg Black.

Rounding out the field are Aaron Silvy/Jaron Silvy, making their first appearance this season, Nathan Fleet/Cameron Diwell, Stephen Fowler/Jeremy Sherwood, Byron Mordaunt/William Lepoidevin and Wayne Lethbridge/Grantley Simounds. All are capable of taking points off the more fancied riders but may not have the consistency to put enough points together to make the semi-final.

Support events will be Flat Track Solos, including Kyle Machin, Liam May and Seane Chapman, and 125cc Junior Solos.

For those that can’t attend, the meeting will be livestreamed through the website link [https://www.spacequakesports.com/ppv] for a cost of $25. Please note this is the only official livestreaming link, any others touted on facebook sites are scams and should be ignored.

Everything You Need To Know:

Meeting Date: Saturday, 3 February 2024

Venue: Gillman Speedway Stadium, 65 Wilkins Road, Gillman – near the Port Adelaide area.

Parking and entrance: Patrons can enter via gates at the western and eastern ends of the venue. There are free off-street parking areas near both gates.

Gates open: at 4pm.

Pit access for spectators: Free spectator access to the pits until approximately 6pm.

Racing starts: at 7 pm.

Sidecars — Bowes Family Cup: Thomas Adams/Cameron White, David Bottrell/Darcy Risstrom, Nathan Fleet/Cameron Diwell, Stephen Fowler/Jeremy Sherwood, Nate Headland/Jaxon Rayner, Trent Headland/April Cottrell, Dean Hobbs/Danial Low, Wayne Lethbridge/Grantley Simounds, Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan, Byron Mordaunt/William Lepoidevin, Josh Pascoe/Greg Black, Justin Plaisted/Damian Egan, Mark Plaisted/Ben Pitt, Shane Rudloff/Scott Morris, Aaron Silvy/Jaron Silvy, Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski, Chris Walker/Eric Melton

Late change 1/2/2024-David Bottrell/Darcy Risstrom out.

Support races:

Flat Track Solos: Seane Chapman, Graeme Eberhard, Dale Knights, Troy Knights, Greg Laanekorb, Kyle Machin, Liam May, Stuart McKenzie, Matt Paterson, Kristy Schultz, Con Twist, Mingyu Zhao.

Juniors (on infield track during main track grades):

Under 16 125cc Junior Solos: Owen Chapman, Ruby Chapman, Hayden Kuchel, Connor Machin, Ryleigh McGregor, William Nicol, Hayden Pascoe, Riley Stout. Under 16 125cc Junior Solo Novices: Cooper Coats, Izabelle Murtagh, Jett Plaisted, Nate Sadler, Axel Smith. 50cc Solos: Hope Coats, Oliver Coats, Mikayla Morris, Kolby Schultz. Pee Wees: Amali Morris, Zara Plaisted, Kolby Schultz

Admission: Adults $25, Age Pension and Student Concession $20, Children Under 16 free. Parking free. Programme $5-includes two chances to win $50 fuel vouchers. EFTPOS available at both entrances, the canteen, bar and souvenir shop.

Concession is limited to holders of the Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card and Student Concession card holders only.

Livestreaming: This meeting will be livestreamed on [https://www.spacequakesports.com/ppv]. The cost is $25 Australian. Any other claimed links to livestreaming are scams and should be ignored.

Seating: Free grandstand seating, terracing suitable for deck chairs, and large grassed viewing mounds.

VIP Area: The Bob White VIP area is available to anyone who would like to treat their business colleagues, family or friends to the best view in the stadium. Enjoy the elevated view overlooking the track, either from inside the temperature controlled rooms, on the timber deck, or on the enclosed lawn area. The VIP area also has its own bar and toilet. Ring Ivan Golding on 0417 138 378 for more details.

Food and drink: Full bar and catering available. Food includes hot chips, hamburgers, chicken burgers, pies, pasties, sausage rolls, Chiko Rolls, dim sims, hot dogs, doughnuts, coffee, cold drinks, sweets. “Gillman has far and away the best speedway tucker” [Peter White’s Speedway World]

Please note a condition of our liquor licence is no byo alcohol or glass can be brought into the venue.

Souvenirs: There is a well-stocked souvenir shop. See the “A Night At Gillman” tab.

Pets: No animals are allowed into the venue except assistance animals, eg guide dogs.

Weather Forecast as at 31 January: Maximum 33, minimum 14. Sunny.

[www.bom.gov.au/sa/forecasts/adelaide.shtml]

Directions:

The best way to get to Gillman Speedway is off Hanson Road.

If you are coming from the eastern and southern suburbs, get on to Hanson road off Torrens Road or Grand Junction Road, travel north on Hanson road over the train line then take the first road on the left, which is Wilkins road.

From the northern suburbs, travel down the Port Adelaide expressway and take the Hanson Road exit. Once on Hanson Road, take the first exit on your right, this is Wilkins road.

From the western suburbs, Wilkins Road is the continuation of Bedford Street, north of Eastern Parade.

For interstate visitors flying into Adelaide and getting a hire car, Gillman is about 20kms, and 30 minutes’ drive (depending on traffic lights) from the airport.

The easiest and most direct way from the airport, if not going to your accommodation first is:

On leaving the airport, turn left onto Sir Donald Bradman Drive. Continue along Sir Donald Bradman Drive until you reach the end of the airport grounds and turn right onto Tapleys Hill Road. Keep going on Tapleys Hill Road until you can’t go any further. That’s Port Road. Turn left onto Port Road (you can only turn left). Continue down Port Road for about 1 km to the first intersection which is Grand Junction road and turn right. Go 700 metres along Grand Junction Road, over a bridge over a railway line. Stay in the left lane because at the bottom of the bridge you turn left into Gray Terrace. Go to the end of Gray Terrace and turn right onto Bedford Street. Keep going on that road until you get to the speedway. About 2km.

Accommodation: There is plenty of accommodation in Adelaide and suburbs, within 20-30 minutes of the Speedway, ranging from five star hotels to caravan parks and backpacker hostels.

Contact for this meeting: Ivan Golding 0417 138 378.